Inexpensive Marketing Tips for the New Solo Entrepreneur 

Whether you are just starting out in this new gig economy as a small business owner or a professional in the role of a solo entrepreneur, you need to know that a small marketing budget doesn’t mean that you can’t make a significant impact.  There are ways to stretch your dollar and maximize your resources. Some of these may seem obvious to you, but how many are you implementing on a regular basis? 

Get online

In today’s day and time, it does not cost a lot of money to get online. For a few dollars, not only can you buy your domain name but you can build and host your website. The website is not just an online brochure, but should be considered the new storefront. The good news is that it does not cost a ton of money to rent space and make an impression.

Lay a foundation

Everything you do or say take says something about you. That is why it baffles me to see established business owners that are still sending emails with a Yahoo, Gmail or AOL extension. Using a branded email not only shows that you are serious about your business, but speaks to the breadth of your company.

Taking that thought offline for a moment…it’s a misconception that you need to enter into a long-term lease for beautiful office space to impress your clients. Business centers offer flexible workspace and virtual offices so that you can make an impression at a fraction of the cost. You can establish an address with a virtual office and book meeting rooms with a warm reception for face-to-face meetings. It’s easier (and less costly) than you might think!

Create content

Once upon a time, people thought you were “someone” if you were published. Believe it or not, the same holds true today. But today’s truth is that anyone can get published.

Information is consumed voraciously on the internet. As consumers, we desperately seek the most up-to-date information through search before we make buying decisions. People want to be educated; so, why not provide that education?  It’s easy (and inexpensive) to implement a blog on your website. It’s even easier to publish a post on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn

Speaking of LinkedIn, this social network is growing by leaps and bounds. It’s a great place to expand your network and showcase your expertise.

What’s the trick?  Honestly, there is no trick.  Just treat it like you would a business networking function. Start by dressing the part (setting up your profile), join a group or two, and making connections with people you know.  Listen to the conversations until you are comfortable with the social nuances and then start contributing. LinkedIn is a perfect place to build a social following so that you can push the content that you created out there.

Email marketing

Pushing content out is just as important as creating it. After all, it’s not wise to build a storefront without extending an invitation to visit it.  It’s as simple as that.

There are a few things you need to know about email marketing. While emailing direct from Outlook or your regular email account is free, it’s a bad idea. An email management company is inexpensive and provides an incredible amount of functionality. I happen to like Constant Contact but MailChimp works well too).  Perhaps most importantly, it helps you stay within the ICANN SPAM regulations and can prevent you from getting your email blacklisted. It also provides you analytics and tips so you can get better at email marketing. (Read 5 Rules for Better Email Marketing)

You do not need a big budget to market your small business and there is no magic.  The key is consistency. Implement a system or routine, stick to it, exercise a patience and discipline, and you will start to see results.

Crown Center Executive Suites is helping self-employed professionals and small businesses with inexpensive marketing by offering a free networking group. Find out about our Lunch Bunch event by clicking here

 

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